The Sophie Fund extends its gratitude and deep thanks to Visions Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health System, and Maguire Family of Dealerships for supporting the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest. Thank you for once again championing the mental health mission in our community!
Cornell University students from four campus organizations volunteered to work at the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest, an event to raise awareness about mental health, and collected donations in The Sophie Fund’s related Cupcake Button fundraising campaign for mental health.
All smiles performing community service with The Sophie Fund
Participating groups included Cornell Circle K, Pre-Professional Association Toward Careers in Health (PATCH), Alpha Phi Omega–Gamma Chapter, and Cornell Minds Matter.
The students arrived for the October 19 event practically at the crack of dawn at the Bernie Milton Pavilion in the Commons. They set up the contest, registered contestants, participated in the judging, created awards certificates, connected with community mental health partners, and cleaned up the event space afterwards.
Volunteers getting ready to welcome the contestants
A bonus in volunteering with The Sophie Fund: tasting dozens of delicious cupcakes
The students spent the previous two weeks collecting donations for the Ithaca Free Clinic, which provides medical and other health services to clients regardless of their ability to pay. The Sophie Fund organizes the Cupcake Button campaign every year to support Ithaca mental health nonprofits.
Ithaca Free Clinic Executive Director Norbert McCloskey briefs Cornell students on the clinic’s work
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Co-President of Cornell Minds Matter Zoey Preza described her organization’s efforts to support student mental health on the campus.
She said CMM organizes free yoga and Zumba classes, and hands out self-care kits to students during prelims and finals “especially when we know students will be a little more stressed.” CMM will host a “Dining with Diverse Minds” gala featuring free food and speakers promoting mental health. She noted that CMM has worked to facilitate relationships between students and Cornell administrators.
Cornell Minds Matter President Zoey Preza speaks at the Awards Ceremony
Early shift for the Cornell volunteers
Thank you, Cornell student mental health advocates!
What fun we had! Here’s a slideshow from the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest, held in the Ithaca Commons on October 19, 2024.
Registration Team for 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest
Countdown to a contest in the Commons
Hailey Ayres entering her “Apple to the Spice Cupcakes”
Entering Jackie Rumsey’s “Caramel Apple Cupcakes”
Marina Mahashin entering her prize-winning “Rasmalai Tres Leches Cupcakes”
Pragadeeshwaran Sivasamy entering his “Chai Cupcakes”
Mom-and-daughter team Julia & Renee Bauer registering their “Autumn Tea Party Cupcakes”
Keeley Firinne’s “Strawpurry Catcakes”
Savannah Ventura-Ewing’s “Carrot Collision Cupcakes“
From Wilfred Race’s half-dozen “Whimsical Halloween Nostalgia Cupcakes”
Ayami Yamaguchi’s “Sweet Harmony Cupcakes”
Gamay Hudson Paxton entering the “Swim Team Cupcakes”
Alpha Kappa Psi’s “Mindful Mudcake Cupcakes”
Katy Holloway’s “Waiting for Spring Cupcakes”
“Let the judging begin!”
Cornell University students judging an early round of the contest
Marina Mahashin receives the 2nd Place Award for her “Rasmalai Tres Leches Cupcakes”
Nine-time contestant Aušra Milano’s receives a 2024 Honorable Mention Award
Aušra Milano’s “All Things Orange Cupcakes”
Alecia Sundsmo receives an Honorable Mention Award for her “Summer Reprise Cupcakes”
Grace Qi receives the 3rd Place Award
Grace Qi’s “Harvest Caramel Apple Cupcakes”
Isabel Perkins receives the Special Youth Award
Isabel Perkins’s “Dream Cupcakes”
Miles Rosenberg receives the Let’s Break the Mint Award for his “Mint Craft Cupcakes”
Volunteers Coordinator Addyson Wells
Contest Production Team
Thanks to the generous contest sponsors: VISIONS Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health, and Maguire
The Sophie Fund’s information table
Thanks to the Downtown Ithaca Alliance!
Contestants in the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest on October 19 wowed the judges with their works of art—so many masterpieces to evaluate! Congratulations to these winners of Special Awards!
Most Em”Pink”athetic Award
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County
Flavors of Nostalgia Award
Sadie Dowden
Apple Orchard Award
Jackie Rumsey
Un“matcha”d Creativity Award
Ayami Yamaguchi
Trick or Treat Award
Wilfred Race
Mind Over Mocha Award
Alpha Kappa Psi
Essence of Flower Award
Seyedehraheleh Aletahamakikouhbanani
Pumpkin Pie Is So 1621 Award
Rebecca Costello
Most Inspiring Story Award
Precious Walsh
Let’s Break the Mint Award
Miles Rosenberg
Deep Blue Sea Award
Gamay Hudson Paxton
I Want S’more Award
Meg Banning
Most Comforting Award
Savannah Ventura-Ewing
Got Me Feline Good Award
Keeley Firinne
Very Fall Very Taylor Swift Award
Iris Pellani
We’re Rooting for You Award
Nina Trautmann Chaopricha
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County’s “Very Berry Sweet Treats of Kindness Cupcakes”: Moist and flavorful strawberry cupcakes with strawberry cream cheese frosting, decorated with fresh berries, hand painted miniature French macarons, and chocolate words of kindness.
Sadie Dowden’s Dessert Cart of Cupcakes: A half dozen unique cupcakes with apple pie, lemon blueberry, fruity pebbles, pumpkin, chocolate raspberry, and S’mores themes and flavors.
Jackie’s “Caramel Apple Cupcakes”: Granny Smith apple cupcakes with heavy cream frosting.
Ayami Yamaguchi’s “Sweet Harmony Cupcakes”: Cupcakes with matcha, mochiko, and azuki bean flavors combining a beloved American treat with favorite Japanese ingredients symbolizing understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
Wilfred Race’s “Whimsical Halloween Nostalgia Cupcakes”: Chocolate ganache cupcakes with maple and bourbon icing decorated with spooky icons.
Alpha Kappa Psi’s “Mindful Mudcake Cupcakes”: Decadent chocolate cupcakes with chocolate cream frosting and gummy brain and gummy worm decorations.
Raheleh’s “Persian Cupcakes”: Rose water, and saffron flavored vanilla cupcakes with a creamy cardamom frosting.
Rebecca Costello’s “Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes”: Pumpkin flavored cupcakes topped with cinnamon frosting.
Precious Walsh’s “Apple Cupcakes”: Apple spice cake and muffin base with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
Miles Rosenberg’s “Mint Craft Cupcakes”: Chocolate cupcakes with mint buttercream frosting inspired by Minecraft grass blocks.
Gamay Hudson Paxton’s “Swim Team Cupcakes”: Steamed molasses pudding cupcakes with blue water-colored sauce from an old family recipe.
Meg Banning’s “S’more Delight Cupcakes”: Chocolate cupcakes with Graham cracker base topped by toasted marshmallow frosting.
Savannah Ventura-Ewing’s “Carrot Collision Cupcakes”: Carrot cake muffins with cream cheese frosting and white-chocolate carrot decorations.
Keeley Firinne’s “Strawpurry Catcakes”: Strawberry cupcakes with lemon curd filling and strawberry Swiss meringue buttercream icing.
Iris Pellani’s “Brown Butter Spiced Cupcakes”: Spiced cupcakes with a maple and bourbon cream cheese frosting and candied pecans.
Nina Trautmann Chaopricha’s “Celebrating Sustainability Compost Cupcakes”: Carrot, apple, oatmeal, and pumpkin seed cupcakes creating “a dark, loose, crumbly mass of organic matter with a pleasant earthy fragrance.”
The Sophie Fund thanks the 29 bakers who entered their masterpieces in the 9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest. Judging so much originality, creativity, and skill is a challenging task! Besides the three top awardees, 10 contestants were selected to receive Honorable Mention Awards. Bravo to all! Honorable Mention awardees were presented with $25 gift certificates from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance.
Honorable Mention
Aušra Milano
Jessica Cullen
Katy Holloway
Angela Meeker
Avery Carr
Renee & Julia Bauer
Pragadeeshwaran Sivasamy
Hailey Ayres
Alecia Sundsmo
Aušra Milano’s “All Things Orange Cupcakes”: Blood orange flavored chocolate and olive oil cupcakes topped with a bouquet of blood orange buttercream flowers.
Jessica Cullen’s “Mango Magic Cupcakes”: Classic vanilla cupcake with a tart mango curd filling, vanilla frosting, and whipped cream topping.
Katy Holloway’s “Waiting for Spring Cupcakes”: Vanilla cupcakes with a pomegranate curd filling and pistachio buttercream frosting flower garnished with four pomegranate seeds representing the time Persephone must spend in the underworld.
Angela Meeker’s “Dark Chocolate Raspberry Curd Cupcakes”: Gluten free decadent deep dark chocolate velvety cupcake, with a homemade raspberry curd filling topped with a homemade cream cheese, white chocolate, and raspberry swirl frosting decorated with dark Bavarian chocolate and fresh raspberries.
Avery Carr’s “London Fog Cupcakes”: Chocolate cupcakes with brewed Earl Grey tea, topped by a Swiss meringue buttercream frosting emulsified with butter steeped with vanilla bean and Earl Grey tea and adorned with salted caramel.
Renee & Julia Bauer’s “Autumn Tea Party Cupcakes”: Chocolate cakes with ganache filling, topped with Earl Grey buttercream frosting and a candied orange slice decorated with a chocolate leaf.
Pragadeeshwaran Sivasamy’s “Chai Cupcakes”: Chai-infused cupcakes, with cinnamon frosting decorated with a pippette containing a sip of Chai tea.
Hailey Ayres’s “Apple to the Spice Cupcakes”: Apple spice cakes filled with apple cider dices, topped with cream cheese frosting with cinnamon bites and leaf sprinkles.
Alecia Sundsmo’s “Summer Reprise Cupcakes”: Strawberry lemonade birthday cupcakes, with lemon cakes and filling topped with strawberry icing decorated with strawberry wedges.
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